UEA/doTERRA Excellence in Teaching Awards to be presented at the KeyBank Superstars in Education Banquet June 14
As a teacher in a small town, Elinda Nedreberg has had the full rural schoolteacher experience. She teaches three grades of English, Drama I & II as well as Technical Theater in Tintic School District. And “she has done so with gusto and with great commitment to our students,” according to the district superintendent, who himself is a fellow teacher as well as a parent to one of Nedreberg’s students. “Mrs. Nedreberg has revitalized and rebuilt a drama program at Tintic High School that has become integral to the arts in our small community,” he wrote. “In her first year, she trailered one of the district’s vehicles and hauled props from a school over 50 miles away to create an amazing ambience for her student’s performances.”
Students in Chantelle Browning’s third-grade class at Hurricane Elementary in Washington County School District each create a ‘super-secret handshake’ they share every morning. Students look forward to Browning doing the silly actions with them. She uses the activity to build relationships and show the students she cares for them and is interested in their learning, talents and abilities. Browning also collects donations from friends and family to purchase books for her students to select and take home each month. Many of Browning’s low-income students comment these are the first books they have ever owned.
Nedreberg and Browning are two of the 10 educators honored with 2022 UEA/doTERRA Excellence in Teaching Awards. The awards will be presented at the KeyBank Superstars in Education Banquet June 14 at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. Video profiles on each of the 10 winning teachers, produced by PBS-Utah, will be shown at the banquet awards ceremony and are available to view online at pbsutah.org/teachers.
Award recipients were selected based on their impact on individual students or groups of students. Each winner receives an award, a poster to display at their school and a check for $1,500, courtesy of award sponsor doTERRA.
UEA/doTERRA Excellence in Teaching Award recipients for 2022 are:
- Kimberly Bayles, first-grade teacher at Gearld Wright Elementary School, Granite School District
- Chantelle Browning, third-grade teacher at Hurricane Elementary, Washington County School District
- Jason Goble, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at North Sevier High School, Sevier School District
- Amy Goodrich, credit recovery specialist at Riverton High School, Jordan School District
- Elizabeth Hylton, English, reading and resource teacher at Springville Junior High School, Nebo School District
- Amy Jaskowick, K-12 severe special education teacher at the Digital Education Center, Tooele County School District
- Neal Johnson, drama teacher at American Fork High School, Alpine School District
- Heidi Murray, fourth-grade teacher at Sandstone Elementary School, Washington County School District
- Elinda Nedreberg, English and drama teacher at Tintic High School, Tintic School District
- Emily Phillips, speech teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School, Logan School District
View award winner profiles and videos.
“It is a tremendous honor to recognize these outstanding educators. They are a shining example of the great work happening in our public schools each day,” said UEA President Heidi Matthews. “The only thing that could be better is if we could personally recognize each and every teacher for the remarkable work they do day in and day out in classrooms across Utah.”
The UEA has presented the Excellence in Teaching Awards since 2000. KeyBank has sponsored the Superstars in Education Banquet since 2012.PBS Utah has partnered with the UEA to produce video profiles of the Excellence in Teaching Award winners since 2016.
“We are honored to support the Utah Education Association as it celebrates our educators,” said Ram Halteh, Private Banking Market Leader for KeyBank in Utah. “Quality education is key to a thriving community, and these teachers go above and beyond to ensure our children have bright futures. It is a pleasure to do our small part honor them for their commitment.”
“The videos produced by PBS Utah are moving tributes to educators across Utah who work hard to ensure Utah’s children receive a quality education. We are honored to be a part of these awards,” said PBS Utah Education Program Manager Annie Frazier.
In addition, three awards for outstanding service to public education will be presented:
- 2022 UEA Honor Roll Award to The Utah PTA. This award recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations that have made a significant contribution to public education.
- 2022 Robert “Archie” Archuleta Human and Civil Rights Award to Davis School District educator Bianca Mittendorf. This award is presented to an individual who has engaged in human and civil rights activities that have benefited education and had community-wide impact.
- 2021 Elaine Tzourtzouklis Service to Association Award to former UEA President and Utah public school educator Pat Rusk (posthumously). This award honors an individual who has provided outstanding service to the Association in the area of member advocacy, political action, leadership, collaboration and/or coalition building.
